Best Choice for Hunting Boar/Coyote

[Safton]

Hey everyone. I've lurked on THR for years but only just now got around to creating an account. I have no hunting background, but lately I've seriously considered getting into hog/coyote hunting here in Georgia. Both are considered pest animals by DNR and as such you needn't worry about tags and the like. The main thing holding me back at the moment is finding appropriate land to hunt on and making sure I'm able to use the entirety of the animal after I kill them (I have no interest in trophies), as my latest options have fallen through.

In any case, my gun safe is currently occupied by the following:

• Marlin Model 1895SBL
• Norinco SKS
• Daniel Defense M4A1

I also have a Walther PPQ M2 in 9mm and S&W Bodyguard 380, but I'm hardly going to be hunting with those

I figure the DD would be a good choice for coyote if I loaded it with something like Hornady V-Max. The hogs I'm less sure of; we get some truly massive ones here in GA and people can never seem to agree on what cartridge is appropriate for taking them. Should I play it safe and stick with the .45-70 and a heavy expanding load?

Clearly I have a lot of groundwork to cover still before I get started, but I'm just looking for opinions and advice from those who have experience in this arena. Thanks for your input!

 

[jmr40]

Of your choices I'd use the M4 for both. Nothing special needed for the coyote, but for hogs I'd either go with a 55 gr Barnes solid copper or something in the 70 gr range with lead core bullets. While you can run into some big hogs the big ones aren't that common.

If you just want to use the 45-70 it'll work and the load you choose isn't that important. Just about any modern cartridge between 26 and 30 caliber will cover any game animal in the lower 48 including any hog. It's really about personal preference.

If you're planning on doing a lot more big game hunting or even just hogs then down the road you may want to buy something between 223 and 45-70. But I wouldn't stay home if my only options were what you have.

 

[FL-NC]

The DD M4 is what I would use. I have killed hogs and deer cleanly using Hornady 75 grain BTHP. Pigs aren't difficult to kill.

 

[Safton]

Of your choices I'd use the M4 for both. Nothing special needed for the coyote, but for hogs I'd either go with a 55 gr Barnes solid copper or something in the 70 gr range with lead core bullets. While you can run into some big hogs the big ones aren't that common.

The DD M4 is what I would use. I have killed hogs and deer cleanly using Hornady 75 grain BTHP. Pigs aren't difficult to kill.

Thanks for the input. I'm any of these rounds could also lay out a coyote just fine? I'm sure they'd be "overkill" in terms of pelt damage, but I'm more concerned with a humane kill. I don't mind getting two separate types of ammunition for each animal, but if I could stick to one for both in addition to home defense that'd be a big bonus.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I need to find where these big ones are. Must be in north GA.

I would use the M4 as well. 62gr Winchester power point or a 55 gr premium medium game bullet.

 

[Safton]

I need to find where these big ones are. Must be in north GA.

I would use the M4 as well. 62gr Winchester power point or a 55 gr premium medium game bullet.

I dunno, I've never seen them myself. I just keep catching a lot of hearsay from friends and acquaintances about supposed monster hogs in our state that never seem to actually materialize... for what it's worth, the infamous Hogzilla was down south near the Florida line.

I doubt any of the hogs in my area would exactly scoff at 5.56 in any case.

 

[WisBorn]

All three of the rifles you mentioned will work on pigs and coyotes. The bigger question is the terrain and shooting distance. Will a scope be needed? Or the extra knockdown of the 45-70 for close quarters and a little less than perfect shot placement.
The sks may be a good compromise with a low power scope.

 

[FL-NC]

Thanks for the input. I'm any of these rounds could also lay out a coyote just fine? I'm sure they'd be "overkill" in terms of pelt damage, but I'm more concerned with a humane kill. I don't mind getting two separate types of ammunition for each animal, but if I could stick to one for both in addition to home defense that'd be a big bonus.

Sure. As far as a coyote goes, you are basically shooting a dog with the same gun we use on bad guys. The Hornady round I mentioned isn't a soft point- it will yaw in critters like deer and hogs and cause massive internal trauma, but it won't expand like a soft point- this makes it pretty "pelt friendly" for the coyotes.

 

[hps1]

As has been stated, all three will do the job on both coyotes & hogs. Personally, the M4 would be my choice as a one gun solution.

I've done ADC work for several ranches owned by one family for a number of years; primarily coyote, some problem bobcats but also culled whitetail does and hogs as needed. My pet coyote rifle was a Bushmaster Predator w/4.5-14 Burris FFII w/Nosler 55 gr. BT bullets and carried a magazine of 60 gr. Nosler Partitions for deer/hogs. Ended up using what was in the rifle (55 gr NBT) most of the time for everything. The NBT works well on all w/proper shot placement.

One word of caution: Your 45-70 would have been a better choice for one particular shot. Lost one hog as he came over a rise just high enough to conceal a hog. He was coming straight toward me at about 30 yards when I decided to shoot between the eyes w/a NBT. Saw the bullet splash in my scope, knocking the hog down, but he jumped right back up and disappeared over the rise too quick for follow up shot. Thinking back, the steep slope of the hog's snout plus thick skull made my choice of shot placement a bad one. Waiting for a broadside target and placing bullet half way between ear and eye puts them down immediately and simplifies the logistics of ammo choice. Will never try a frontal head shot on a hog with the 55's again. For deer, I always wait for a frontal shot on a calm deer and center the white throat patch.




IIRC we shot 36-38 hogs on three 2 day hunts; there were still plenty left for seed but we really slowed down their visits to the feed troughs.


Regards,
hps

 

[Safton]

As has been stated, all three will do the job on both coyotes & hogs. Personally, the M4 would be my choice as a one gun solution.

I've done ADC work for several ranches owned by one family for a number of years; primarily coyote, some problem bobcats but also culled whitetail does and hogs as needed. My pet coyote rifle was a Bushmaster Predator w/4.5-14 Burris FFII w/Nosler 55 gr. BT bullets and carried a magazine of 60 gr. Nosler Partitions for deer/hogs. Ended up using what was in the rifle (55 gr NBT) most of the time for everything. The NBT works well on all w/proper shot placement.

One word of caution: Your 45-70 would have been a better choice for one particular shot. Lost one hog as he came over a rise just high enough to conceal a hog. He was coming straight toward me at about 30 yards when I decided to shoot between the eyes w/a NBT. Saw the bullet splash in my scope, knocking the hog down, but he jumped right back up and disappeared over the rise too quick for follow up shot. Thinking back, the steep slope of the hog's snout plus thick skull made my choice of shot placement a bad one. Waiting for a broadside target and placing bullet half way between ear and eye puts them down immediately and simplifies the logistics of ammo choice. Will never try a frontal head shot on a hog with the 55's again. For deer, I always wait for a frontal shot on a calm deer and center the white throat patch.

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IIRC we shot 36-38 hogs on three 2 day hunts; there were still plenty left for seed but we really slowed down their visits to the feed troughs.
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Regards,
hps

This is great stuff, thanks! Those are some monster hogs. This is the kind of hunt I'd love to join in on one day if I ever make it out to Texas.

The M4 seems to be getting a lot of love in this thread, which is just as well as it's what I'm most comfortable with -- though I'm currently looking into a different optic solution for it for when I go hunting. At the moment it's fitted with an EOTech and some backup folding irons (it's an inherited rifle, so I didn't have any choice in the matter). Ammo-wise I'm seriously considering Black Hills' 50-grain Optimized TSX as a "do-it-all" round for home defense and hunting hogs/coyotes. The cost would be an issue, but a lot of what I've read seems to indicate that it's roughly matched to M193 practice ammo which would be great for my wallet. I'll be sure to confirm that at the range beforehand.

 

[hps1]

though I'm currently looking into a different optic solution for it for when I go hunting. At the moment it's fitted with an EOTech and some backup folding irons

Something in the 3-9 or 4.5-14 (depending upon expected range) works well for most hunting use IMO. I really like the E1 reticle Burris and their FFII are great scopes for the buck.
Primary Arms 3X Compact Prism Rifle scope would also be right at home on your M4 if you don't plan to make longer shots. Available in 3 or 5X. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BOTJGIM?ref_=pe_623860_70668520_dpLink

The 3X performed well @ 150 yds on my Garand.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mission-accomplished-with-the-m1-garand.845936/

Regards,
hps

 

[Dibbs]

If the coyotes in N. Georgia are anything like the ones in N. Florida, you'll be looking at a lot of shots in the 100 to 250 yard range. If your AR barrel is up to it, the V-Max
does work, very well. I would recommend a good brand (Nikon, Leupold, Zeiss) in at least 3-9X40. (50, if you hunt dusk and dawn)

 

[FL-NC]

I would take a look at some of the optics offered by Vortex, like the 1-4 and 1-6 x scopes. They are very versatile.

 

[horsey300]

This is great stuff, thanks! Those are some monster hogs. This is the kind of hunt I'd love to join in on one day if I ever make it out to Texas.

The M4 seems to be getting a lot of love in this thread, which is just as well as it's what I'm most comfortable with -- though I'm currently looking into a different optic solution for it for when I go hunting. At the moment it's fitted with an EOTech and some backup folding irons (it's an inherited rifle, so I didn't have any choice in the matter). Ammo-wise I'm seriously considering Black Hills' 50-grain Optimized TSX as a "do-it-all" round for home defense and hunting hogs/coyotes. The cost would be an issue, but a lot of what I've read seems to indicate that it's roughly matched to M193 practice ammo which would be great for my wallet. I'll be sure to confirm that at the range beforehand.

Pick a tsx, or ttsx, load (Winchester makes a razor back line I think?) From 50-65 gr and you'll be fine, I run splosives on prairie dogs, but for yote hides, deer etc, I run a 50 ttsx (handloaded) and it makes me smile.